SQM Engineer – Supplier Quality Management

About the role

The SQM Engineer will ensure the highest quality of manufactured products by managing supplier processes and preventing defects from reaching the shop floor. This role supports revenue targets through robust supplier controls, risk assessment, and continuous improvement initiatives within the automotive sector.

Key responsibilities

• Implement robust process controls with suppliers to prevent scrap, non‑conformance costs (NCC) and blocked stocks.
• Drive analysis of material issues, initiate preventive actions and reduce SCB or cost deductions.
• Support consolidation and coordination of supplier‑related NCC via SCB process or RMA.
• Review past performance, conduct risk assessments, define focus areas, set measurable targets and launch projects impacting SQM KPIs.
• Deploy the agreed SQM quality strategy, perform SWOT analyses and collaborate with SQM Continuous Improvement for handover from new product introduction to series production.
• Participate in supplier workshops, trainings and audits for new products or technologies.
• Track quality deviations, lead root‑cause analysis and enforce counter‑measures to meet defined quality requirements.
• Implement preferred supplier and component strategies, lead improvement programs and define targets aligned with SQM business goals.
• Use data systems to collect and evaluate supplier quality KPIs, produce periodic performance reports and trigger improvement actions.

Required profile

• Experience in supplier quality management within automotive or related manufacturing environments.
• Strong analytical and risk‑assessment capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional projects and coordinate with external suppliers.
• Familiarity with non‑conformance cost processes (NCC, SCB, RMA) and root‑cause analysis.
• Effective communication skills for workshops, audits and reporting.

Required skills

• Supplier quality management processes.
• Root‑cause analysis methodologies.
• KPI monitoring and reporting.
• Process control implementation.
• SWOT analysis for quality processes.